One consistent element in the art I have done since I was a boy is monsters.

GERR!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Always 2: Godzilla Opening

Always 1 and Always 2 are Japanese films about the story of life in a small district in Tokyo during the 50's. I think the movies developed from a manga, comic book, in Japan. It is very easy to get caught up in the nostalgic mood of the movies and you can't help getting involved with the characters.

The opening sequence in Always 2 captures the point of view of these films. You are down in the streets with the ordinary folks, trying to survive, as the chaos and uncontrollable force of Godzilla is happening above and around. In this sequence, Godzilla is secondary to the people on the street, he is more in the background as a destructive obstacle.

For many people, monsters and creatures of all sorts are weird things for someone to enjoy; but the dual nature of our personalities and learning to deal with fear and what is uncontrollable in our lives is common to us all. Humor is a useful tool for that purpose.